Angularly and radially adjustable spur assembly for bass drums



United States Patent [72] Inventor Josephus B. Thompson, deceased by K.E. Stade, administrator, Covington, Ohio [211 App]. No. 749,261

[22] Filed July 29, 1968 [45] Patented Nov. 24, 1970 [73] AssigneeColumbia Broadcasting System, Inc.

New York, New York a corporation of New York [54] ANGULARLY AND RADIALLYADJUSTABLE SPUR ASSEMBLY FOR BASS DRUMS Primary Examiner-Richard B.Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin Attorney-Gausewitz &Carr ABSTRACT: A spur assembly for bass drums, in which a bushing ismounted generally radially of the drum shell by means of a nut and firstand second corresponding mounting washers, such washers being angularlyoffset 180 relative to each other. A set screw is provided to mount thespur in the bushing at any desired radial position. Conjoint rotation ofboth washers during the mounting procedure permits the bushing and thusthe spur to project at a great variety of angles relative to the shell,so that the spur may be mounted on different diameters and types of bassdrums.

Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,541,914

Sheet 1 of 2 INVENTOR. JOSZPA/U' 6T 77/044, 50

4 T TOE/V6351 Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,541,914

INVENTOR. JOSE P406 3 THOMPSON wfg ANGULARLY AND RADIALLY ADJUSTABLESPUR ASSEMBLY FOR BASS DRUMS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention I This invention relates to the field of support and accessoryapparatus for bass drums.

2. Description ofthe Prior Art Prior-art spur assemblies for bass drumsconventionally in-. corporated lugs r collet. plates which requiredseparate mounting (as by a plurality of bolts) on the shell of the drum.The elongated spurs which were mounted in such collet plates or lugscould sometimes'be adjusted radially of the drum, but they could not beangularly adjusted to a wide variety of angles adapted to permitmounting of the spurs on bass drums of different diameters. It thereforefrequently occurred that different types of collet plates, etc., weremanufactured for different diameters of bass drums. This increased thetooling and production costs. 1

Another disadvantage of prior-art spur assemblies for bass drums wasthat they did little or nothing to prevent forward creeping or inchingof the drums in response to repeated pounding as by a foot-pedal beaterassembly. Because of the creep problem, special assemblies weresometimes mounted on drums, being adapted to bite into the carpeting orfloor in order to minimize creep. The spur assemblies themselves werenot adapted to be adjusted to angular positions such that the problem ofcreep was reduced or eliminated.

SUMMARY'OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, onlya single nut is required to rapidly mount the assembly on the shells ofbass drums of various diameters. There is no necessity to vary the spurassembly in accordance with the diameter of the drum, since the angle ofprojection of the spur may be readily adjusted in order to compensatefor differences in shell diameters. Furthermore, the spur may be causedto incline forwardly, away from the drum beater assembly, in order tominimize creep.

The invention comprises a bushing which is inserted through an oversizeopening in the drum shell, the size of the opening being such as topermit the bushing to be adjusted to various angular positions inrelation to an extended radius of the shell. First and second mountingwashers are provided around the bushing and respectively on the exteriorand interior of the shell. Such washers are formed with apertured seatportions which lie in planes oblique to the planes of the rims of thewashers, each of such seat portions being rotated to I80degree-out-of-registry position relative to the seat portion of theremaining washerfi The result is that conjoint rotation of the washerschanges the position of the bushing, and thus of the drum spur, relativeto an extended radius of the shell. Means are provided to mount a drumspur in the bushing for radial adjustment therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWINGS FIG. is a front elevational viewillustrating in schematic manner a drum shell having mounted thereon aset of drum spur assemblies in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged .view illustrating the spur-mounting means andassociated drum shell portion in vertical section, and illustrating thespur itself in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view ofone of the washers;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding generally to FIG. 2 but show-- ing thewashers and spur as rotated to a different position permitting mountingof the assembly on a different diameter shell;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the shell portion in which thespur and mounting means therefor are provided,

and illustrating different rotational positions by solid and phantomlines; and

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding generally to FIG. 2, the spur being shownto its innermost adjusted position.

. with the rim 30. Region 36 is arcuate, and the central portionDESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first toFIG. l, ahollow cylindrical drum shell 10 is shown as resting on a floor or otherhorizontal supporting surface S, the axis of the shell 10 beinghorizontal. First and second spur assemblies 11 and 12 are illustratedas mounted on shell 10 in order to prevent the same from rotating aboutits axis or from creeping forwardly in response to beating of the drum.Spur assemblies 11 and 12 are identical to each other, so only one(number 11) will be described in detail.

Each spur assembly comprises a mounting or base portion 13 in which isadjustably mounted an elongated spur l4. Mounting or base portion 13comprises an elongated tubular bushing 16 having a cylindrical shank 17and a generally cylindrical head 18 of larger outer diameter. A majorityof the length of shank I7 is externally threaded, the thread preferablyterminating a substantial distance from a shoulder 19 which separatesthe shank from head 18. Such shoulder 19 is preferably frustoconical andconvergent toward the end of the shank.

Shank 17 extends through exterior and interior metal washers 21 and 22,respectively, and also through an oversize opening or aperture 23 inshell I0. The diameter of such opening 23, which is preferably circular,is sufficient to permit inclination of the bushing 16 and thus of spur14 relative to the axis of the opening (which axis is along an extendedradius of the shell 10). v

Washers 21 and 22 are employed to fixedly mount bushing 16 on shell 10.For this purpose, the washers are compressed toward each other, andclamped against the outer and inner surfaces of the shell, by means of anut 24. Such nut is threaded over the inner end of the shank 17, therebeing a lock washer 26 provided between the nut and the inner washer 22.When the nut 24 thus acts against the washers, the exterior washer 21seats forcibly on the shoulder 19 adjacent head 18.

Mounted radially in the head 18, and threadedly associated therewith, isa setscrew 27 having a wing-shaped head 28 adapted to permit manualrotation by the drummer. The setscrew 27 bears against the spur 14,which is an elongated cylindrical element slidably mounted withinbushing 16. Preferably the outer diameter of the spur is only slightlysmaller than the inner diameter of the passage within the bushing.

There will next be described the particular construction andrelationship of the exterior and interior washers 21 and 22 which permitthe bushing and the spur 14 to be oriented at various angles relative tothe drum shell.

Referring to FIG. 3, exterior washer 21 is illustrated. Such washer isgenerally identical to the interior washer 22, but the two washers areso rotated relative to each other that they are approximately 'out' ofangular registry. Each of washers .21 and 22 preferably has a circularrim 30 which lies generally in a single plane, although a certain amountof curvature of the rim may be provided if desired in order to cause itto conform more closely to the curvature of shell 10.

Formed in the central portion of each washer is an inclined thereof isdiametrically opposite the first-mentioned merger region 32. The angleof the inclined seat 31 relative to the plane of rim 30 is such as topermit the desired amount of angular adjustment of the spur in responseto conjoint rotation of the washers.

Formed centrally in seat 31 is a circular opening 37 adapted to receivethe bushing shank 17 in relatively close-fitting relationship. Suitableflat portions 38 are preferably provided at the diametrically oppositeregions of the washer in order to facilitate rotation or registry duringthe manufacturing process.

The washers 21 and 22 are readily formed by stamping procedures,following which the exterior washer 21 is usually chrome plated and theinterior washer 22 cadmium plated. Because the exterior and interiorwashers may be generally identical to'each other, tooling costs areminimized.

Referring particularlyto FIG. 2, the exterior and interior washers 21and 22 are shown as mounted on the bushing shank l7 and in theirpositions 180 out of angular registry with each other. Because of the180 -degree relationship, the seats 31 (FIG. 3) are generally parallelto each other and operate effectively to receive and seat the lockwasher 26 and nut 24 as well'as the shoulder 19 of the bushing.

In the relationship illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washers 21 and 22are conjointly rotated to such positions that the spur 14 is inclineddownwardly relative toan extended radius R of shell 10. The angle ofsuch incline (angle between the spur and radius R) is determined by theangles of inclination of seats 31 relative to rims 30.

Referring to FIG. 4, both of the washers 21 and 22 are illustrated asrotated 180 from the positionsshown in FIG. 2. It

follows that spur 14' is on the opposite side of the extended radiusR,.being thereabove instead of therebeneath. The spur may thus bemounted on a second shell, indicated at a the diameter of which may bedifferent from that of the first-indicated shell 10.-

By mounting (during manufacture of the drum) the washers 21 and 22 insuitable rotational positions at or between the extremes indicated inFIGS. 2 and 4, the spur may be mounted,

on shells 10 having substantially different diameters. It is to beunderstood that in thus adapting the mounting or base assembly 13 toshells 10 of different diameters,the manufac turer considers not onlythe rotational positions of washers 21, 22 but also the radial positionof spur 14 in the bushing 16,

such radial position being maintained by the set or locking screw 27.

From the above it will be understood that conjoint rotation of thewashers 21 and 22, which are always 180out of angular registry, causesthe spur 14 to describe a surface of revolution about the radius ofshell 10. More specifically, such surface of revolution is generallyconical, the apex of the cone being near 7 opening 23.

' position of spur 14 then being indicated by the phantom line 39. Suchangularadjustability not only increases the number of types'of drumshells on which the spur assembly may be mounted, but may also beemployed to reduce the tendency of the drum toward creeping along thesurface S (FIG. .1) in response'to beating of the drum.

Let is be assumed, for example, that the batter side of the bass drum isto the right as viewed in FIG. 5, and that the spur is in the positionshown in solid lines in such figure. The spur 14 is thus inclinedforwardly, causing the rubber tip of foot 40 which is provided at theouter end of the spur to be in position to tend to dig into thesupporting surface Sin response to the beating action. This reduces thetendency of the drum to creep along the surface S 'asbeating continues.

When it is desired to ship the drum, it is merely necessary to loosenthe setscrew 27 by means of the wing-head 28 and then shift the spur 14radially inwardly to the extreme position illustrated in FIG. 6,excessive inward shifting being prevented by the foot or tip 40.'Undesired movement-in the opposite direction is prevented by a crosselement 41 which is mounted in force-fit relationship through atransverse bore in the inner end of the spur.

It is pointed out that in conventional prior-art spur assem blies forbass drums, it was first necessary, as'a separate manufacturingoperation, to mount a collet or receptacle on a plate I and at aparticular angle determined by the diameter of the drum shell. It wasthen necessary to mount the plate on the 1n the present construction,there is no necessity for any preassembly operation, since the shank 17is assembled with the washers, and the angular positions of the washersare determined, in a simple manner during any manufacturing run. Onlythe single nut 24 and lock washer 26 are needed to lockthe componentsimposition as illustrated. Not only is adjustability greatly increased,and manufacturing costs greatly lessened, but the resulting spurassembly is attractive in appearance and may be rapidly mounted onnumerous diameters of drum shells.-

The present spur-mounting assembly may also be employed for otherpurposes in the drum art. For example, the foot 40' may be replaced by asuitable mounting means for a cymbal. In such case, the base or mountingportion 13 is provided at the upper region of shell 10 and the apparatusbecomes a cymbal-holder instead of a'spur.

In the appended claims, the radius"referred to is a radius (such as R)which is (I) perpendicular to the axis of shell 10, and (.2) intersectssuch axis, and('.!) passes through the opening (such as 23) for thebushing (such as 16).

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as givenby.way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of thisinvention being limited solely by the appended claims.

It isclaimed: g

1. An assembly for mounting on the shell of a bass drum or the'like,which comprises: 7 r

a bushing extended through an opening in the shell of a bass drum, saidopening in said shell'being substantially larger than the diameter ofthe bushing portion received therein; an elongated element movablymounted in said bushing; means to lock said elongated element in anydesired position longitudinally of said bushing, said locking meansbeing disposedexteriorly of said shell for access by the drummer;

first and second washers mounted on said bushing and respectivelyexteriorly and interiorly of said shell, said washers being shaped withapertured seat portions which are inclined in relation to the rimportions thereof,

wherebysaid bushing received within the apertures in said washers isinclined relative to an extended radius of said shell, the directionofincline being determined by the rotated positions of said washers; and

means to lock said washers tightly against the outer and inner surfacesof said shell, and to maintain said bushing rigidly in position in saidopening, saidlocking means comprising a nut threadedly associated withsaid bushing inwardly of said shell and also inwardly of said secondwasher, said locking means also comprising seat means on said. bushing'exteriorly of said shell and outwardly of said first washer, said seatmeans being adapted to seat said first washer and prevent the samefrommoving excessively in response to the pressure exerted by said nut. 2.The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said elon-. gated elementis a spur-adapted to support said bass drum and prevent rotation thereofabout itsaxis.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2, in which the outer end of saidspur is provided with a foot portion adapted to frictionally engage asupporting surface. I

4. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said washers are soshaped and related that conjoint rotation thereof causes said elongatedelement to describe a cone the axis of which is a radius of said shell.

5. The invention as" claimed in claim 1, in which said washers areshaped similarly to each other, and in whicheach of said washers isapproximately 180 out of angular registry f with the other, whereby saidseat portions are generally parallel to each other, and whereby saidbushing and the elongated element received therein is disposed at asubstantial angle relative to a radius of said shell.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which each of said washers isa sheet metal stamping having a rim portion disposed generally in'aplane, one edge of said apertured and inclined seat portion of saidstamping merging with one side of one side of said rim portion.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 6, in which said stamping has acrescent-shaped region between said arcuate ridge and the side of saidrim portion which is diametrically opposite said rim portion, said seatportion inclining away from said 5 Said one Side ofsaid rim P plane to agenerally arcuate ridge relatively remote from said

